An Evaluation of Immediate Roadside Prohibitions for Drinking Drivers in British Columbia: Findings from Roadside Surveys

Beirness, Douglas James; Beasley, Erin

doi:10.1080/15389588.2013.813628

Cited by 9 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Drivers on the roads with BACs > .08 decreased by 59% while drivers with BACs > .05 decreased by 44% after the IRP law was in effect (Beirness and Beasley 2014). Another study of the IRP law in British Columbia showed significant average declines of alcohol-related crashes associated with the adoption of the law: 40.4% in fatal crashes, 23.4% in injury crashes, and 19.5% in property damage crashes.…”

Section: Three Priority Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can progress in reducing alcohol-impaired driving fatalities be resumed? Results of a workshop sponsored by the Transportation Research Board, Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Transportation Committee (ANB50)

Fell

Beirness

Voas

et al. 2016

Traffic Injury Prevention

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Objective Despite successes in the 1980s and early 1990s, progress in reducing impaired driving fatalities in the United States has stagnated in recent years. Since 1997, the percentage of drivers involved in fatal crashes with illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) levels has remained at approximately 20% to 22%. Many experts believe that public complacency, competing social and public health issues, and the lack of political fortitude have all contributed to this stagnation. The number of alcohol-related crashes, injuries, and fatalities is still unacceptable, and most are preventable. The public needs to be aware that the problem presented by drinking drivers has not been solved. Political leaders need guidance on which measures will affect the problem, and stakeholders need to be motivated once again to implement effective strategies. Methods The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Transportation Research Board (TRB) Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Transportation Committee (ANB50) sponsored a workshop held at the NAS facility in Woods Hole, MA, on August 24–25, 2015, to discuss the lack of progress in reducing impaired driving and to make recommendations for future progress. A total of 26 experts in research and policy related to alcohol-impaired driving participated in the workshop. The workshop began by examining the static situation in the rate of alcohol-impaired driving fatal crashes to determine what factors may be inhibiting further progress. The workshop then discussed eight effective strategies that have not been fully implemented in the United States. Workshop participants (16 of the 26) rated their top three strategies. Results Three strategies received the most support: Impose administrative sanctions for drivers with BACs = .05 to .08 g/dL.Require alcohol ignition interlocks for all alcohol-impaired driving offenders.Increase the frequency of sobriety checkpoints, including enacting legislation to allow them in the 11 states that currently prohibit them. Five other important strategies included the following: (a) increase alcohol taxes to raise the price and reduce alcohol consumption; (b) re-engage the public and raise the priority of impaired driving; (c) lower the illegal per se BAC limit to .05 for a criminal offense; (d) develop and implement in-vehicle alcohol detection systems; and (e) expand the use of screening and brief interventions in medical facilities. Conclusions Each of these strategies is proven to be effective, yet all are substantially underutilized. Each is used in some jurisdictions in the United States or Canada, but none is used extensively. Any one of the three strategies implemented on a widespread basis would decrease impaired driving crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Based on the research, all three together would have a substantial impact on the problem.

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Section: Three Priority Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can progress in reducing alcohol-impaired driving fatalities be resumed? Results of a workshop sponsored by the Transportation Research Board, Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Transportation Committee (ANB50)

Fell

Beirness

Voas

et al. 2016

Traffic Injury Prevention

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…A 2012 roadside survey found that 82.5% of BC drivers were aware of the new legislation and 89.6% agreed that the new laws would make roads safer (Beirness and Beasley, 2014). Another 2012 survey found that public perception of police commitment to traffic enforcement had increased (Public Attitude Survey, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Media reporting of traffic legislation changes in British Columbia (2010)

Brubacher

Desapriya

Chan

et al. 2015

Accident Analysis & Prevention

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“…2 After alcohol, cannabis is the most common substance implicated in impaired driving in Canada 3 ; data from the National Cannabis Survey (administered after cannabis became legal) indicated 14.7% of respondents had driven within 2 hours of consuming cannabis. 4 Before the legalization of cannabis, cocaine was the second most commonly detected unregulated substance after cannabis, 5 and 27.2% of fatally injured drivers had positive test results for central nervous system stimulants such as cocaine and methamphetamine. 2 While opioids are a less prevalent contributing substance to impaired driving, 3.1% of drivers surveyed in Ontario between 2011 and 2016 reported having driven under the influence of prescription opioids.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Driving and occupational safety assessment in the context of substance use

Huang,

Puri,

Vipler

2023

Can Fam Physician

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An Evaluation of Immediate Roadside Prohibitions for Drinking Drivers in British Columbia: Findings from Roadside Surveys

Cited by 9 publications

References 3 publications

Can progress in reducing alcohol-impaired driving fatalities be resumed? Results of a workshop sponsored by the Transportation Research Board, Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Transportation Committee (ANB50)

Can progress in reducing alcohol-impaired driving fatalities be resumed? Results of a workshop sponsored by the Transportation Research Board, Alcohol, Other Drugs, and Transportation Committee (ANB50)

Media reporting of traffic legislation changes in British Columbia (2010)

Driving and occupational safety assessment in the context of substance use

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